Abstract
The impact of a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) upon patient care delivery was evaluated through the use of a retrospective chart review and staff nurse questionnaire. The medical records were reviewed for documentation of nursing assessments made and interventions begun, while the questionnaire sought information concerning the perceived availability of resources to assist the staff in their care delivery to spinal cord injury patients. Nursing documentation was limited but a trend toward increaed attention to psychosocial needs, and an increase in documentation of physiological needs assessment were noted following the arrival of the CNS Staff nurse perceptions of the CNS were uniformly favorable, with 84.2% of the questionnaire respondents listing the CNS as the primary resource person available to assist them in their care delivery. © Williams & Wilkins 1988. All Rights Reserved.